At the age of twenty, Esther experienced the loss of her brother due to conflict in her homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Seeking refuge, she spent 17 years in a Tanzanian refugee camp. According to Esther’s account, life there proved to be extremely challenging with limited opportunities to earn money and secure sufficient food for her family. In 2013, Read More »
Helping Hands and a Heart of Gold
Meet Beatrice Nyiramutuzo from Congo Words cannot adequately express our admiration for Beatrice. With a captivating smile that lights up any room, she embodies kindness, intelligence, and unwavering dedication to her family. Boise is truly fortunate to have her presence. Upon arriving in the Treasure Valley in 2011 with her three children—an eight-year-old son, a four-year-old son, and a six-month-old Read More »
Reflections on life and owning a childcare business during the pandemic
We had a chance to sit down with the dynamic, energetic Laylo Hamud from Somalia. It’s always a pleasure to hear her perspective on life, owning a business and keeping family close. Being a business owner during the pandemic In 2009, Laylo arrived in Boise from Kenya, where she’d been living in a refugee camp for 18 years. She started Read More »
Cooking his way to a brighter future
Meet Ratna Subba from Nepal Ratna Subba is the owner of the food truck Darjeeling Momo. He has an infectious smile and makes you feel at ease the moment you’re around him. He was born in Bhutan but fled from the country to Nepal with his mother and sisters in 1992 when he was 7. Like many other refugees from Read More »
A Small loan Can Make a Big Difference.
2020 proved to be a challenging year for many individuals, and John was no exception. Having lost his partner, he struggled to meet his monthly expenses. With no one to turn to except his faithful dog, who offered unwavering love and support, John faced another setback when his beloved pet fell seriously ill. In a desperate bid to save his Read More »
The Road Ahead
Gisma, along with her three children, arrived in the United States just a year ago, encountering numerous challenges as she embarked on her new life as a single mother without familial support in the country. Despite facing these obstacles, within a year of her arrival, she secured full-time employment. However, Gisma found herself without the ability to drive and lacked Read More »
Overcoming Challenges and Keeping Family First
Meet Mulisa from DRC Everything single-mom Mulisa does, she does for her family. She’s a devoted mother of four boys; her youngest is 16 and the oldest is 24. “I love raising boys,” she said. “My family is everything to me.” Mulisa, who is from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), came to Idaho in 2014. “We feel safer here,” Read More »
Building a Strong Family and Childcare Business
Meet Etando Etando has a smile that lights up a room. She has a big personality and an even bigger heart. Her enthusiasm and sparkling personality come in handy as she raises her own six children and cares for the kids in her childcare business. Etando and her husband have five girls and one boy. Her oldest is 19 and Read More »
Small Loan Helps Create Opportunity
Individuals seeking emergency EO loan assistance, such as Jacob, often approach us during a phase of rebuilding. After serving a period of incarceration, Jacob was employed full-time at a fast-food establishment until an injury compelled him to take a temporary leave. Although he had accommodation at a halfway house, the reduction in income made it challenging for Jacob to cover Read More »
A life-changing loan
Nearing 80 years old, Susan found herself falling into a financial hole. After a predatory mortgage tore through Susan’s finances, she found herself experiencing homelessness for the first time in her life. Her only income was her social security, and she did not have a safety net. Unable to find a place to move into due to credit problems, Susan Read More »